A Journey from Employee to Entrepreneur: Banh Thi Hue’s Success Story

In 2009, Banh Thi Hue moved to Singapore after marrying a local and worked for a decade at a Vietnamese restaurant. After facing difficulties like increasing rent and landlord issues, she shifted her focus to launching her own banh mi business from home.

“Upon closing my stall, my husband and I explored how to operate a home business and invested around SGD 3,000 (approximately VND 56.7 million) in the necessary equipment,” she shared.

This decision led to the start of Hue Banh Mi, which operates out of her family’s four-room apartment in Choa Chu Kang.

Initially, Hue had a backup plan to sell her equipment if the business failed. However, to her delight, after a year of operation, demand remained robust. On weekends, she sells as many as 60 banh mi sandwiches daily.

A significant boost came when a TikTok user, known as ninjabread, posted a video about her banh mi. The entertaining clip depicting a humorous wait for food in Hue’s living room gained over 40,000 likes, significantly increasing her customer base.

Now, customers from far-off places like Orchard and Tampines make the trek to enjoy her banh mi thanks to the video’s popularity.

Hue has broadened her offerings, adding traditional Vietnamese dishes such as nem rán (fried spring rolls) and bò hầm (beef stew) to her menu. Orders can be made through delivery apps or directly from her home, although she recommends pre-ordering due to potential wait times of up to an hour during busy hours. One couple even drove 50 minutes just to experience her famous banh mi.

Prior to launching her business, Hue was uncertain if her banh mi would cater to local palates. After several trials and adjustments, she developed a recipe that harmonizes authentic Vietnamese flavors with Singaporean tastes.

The preparation is detailed and careful, incorporating pickled vegetables and special sauces. Occasionally, Hue works late into the night until 3 a.m. to ensure everything is prepared perfectly.

“Using high-quality ingredients is crucial. If the food isn’t delicious, customers won’t return,” she stated confidently.